Hazardous haze over Singapore may last weeks
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E-mail Agencies via Shanghai Daily, June 21, 2013
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Combo photo shows Singapore's landmark Marina Bay Sands taken on June 20, 2013 (up) and the one taken on Jan. 20, 2011 in Singapore. [Photo/Xinhua] |
An Australian couple on holiday said they canceled a visit to the zoo and would probably stay indoors. "I'm never coming back to Singapore at this time of the year again," said the husband, who identified himself as Rob.
Singapore, a major financial center, sent officials to an emergency haze meeting in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
"We will insist on definitive action," said Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
"No country or corporation has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans' health and well-being."
As Singapore put pressure on Jakarta to act, the Indonesian minister leading the response efforts hit back.
"Singapore shouldn't be like children, in such a tizzy," said Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono, adding the government was checking whether large companies were behind the fires.
"If there are, some are owned by Indonesians, Malaysians, Singaporeans," he said. "We will take action if they are found responsible. But there must be a process."
To identify the culprits, Singapore has provided satellite data to Indonesia and will publish high-resolution photographs of the hot spots with the geographical coordinates to help interest groups such as Greenpeace pinpoint the sites.
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